Founder

In Hyuk Suh is the founder, Grandmaster and President of the World Kuk Sool Association®. He has studied martial arts for more than 50 years, receiving his first instruction from his grandfather, Myung Deuk Suh, a master-instructor to the Korean Royal Court. After his grandfather’s death, he traveled throughout the Far East seeking out and studying additional aspects of the martial arts.

The knowledge he acquired from his grandfather and subsequent masters enabled him to establish Kuk Sool Won™. His organization now boasts 1.3 million members with over 800 schools worldwide in 27 different countries. Although expert in every aspect of martial arts, Grandmaster Suh is especially renowned for his mastery of pressure point and joint manipulation.

Additionally, Kuk Sool Won™ has been mentioned in over 300 articles and featured on more than 60 front covers by world famous magazines in the United States, England, Spain, Iran, Germany, Mexico, and Venezuela. While the following list of accomplishments include items accrued not only by himself but by the organizations he founded, the reason for this can be found in the excerpt below, taken from the “Letter from the Grandmaster” which is written to all practitioners of Kuk Sool Won™ and located in the front of the Textbooks he provided as an aid to understanding such a unique and comprehensive martial art.

“Any distinction or honor granted to me or to any member of thisorganization is a credit to the organization as a whole, includingall the individuals who make up this vast organization.”- In Hyuk Suh

1958Founding of the martial art of Kuk Sool Won™1961Founding of the Korean Kuk Sool Association®1972Kuk Sool Won™ recorded in the World Athletic Dictionary as a traditional Korean martial art

1973Kuk Sool Won™ School established in U.S.A.

1974Grandmaster In Hyuk Suh emigrates to U.S.A.

1975Founding of the World Kuk Sool Association®

Kuk Sool Won™ School established in Great Britain

Kuk Sool Won™ School established in Canada

1976-7740 Kuk Sool Masters appear in Ho Kuk Moo Yea, (translation: Art Used in Defense of the Nation) a documentary produced by the Korean Ministry of Culture and Tourism

1977Kuk Sool Won™ school established in Venezuela

1978Panama International Film Festival bestows its Culture Award to Kuk Sool Won™for its role in the documentary, Ho Kuk Moo Yea commences annual seminars and special training in U.S.A.

1982Kuk Sool Won™ hosts first Open Tournament at the Civic Auditorium in San Francisco

1984Grandmaster In Hyuk Suh voted “Man of the Year” by Black Belt Magazine

1991Kuk Sool Won™ was selected as an extra curriculum activity for the U.S. Military Academy at West Point

Kuk Sool Won™ School established in Germany

25 U.S. cities now hold a “Kuk Sool Won™ Day”

1992Grandmaster In Hyuk Suh is presented with the Commander’s Sword by the U.S. Military Academy at West Point

1993Grandmaster In Hyuk Suh voted “Master of the Year” by Tae Kwon Do Times Magazine

1994Several universities in the U.S.A. include Kuk Sool Won™ as a regular athletic activity

Grandmaster In Hyuk Suh is presented with the Commander’s Sword by the U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs

1995Kuk Sool Won™ hosts First Annual Tournament at the U.S. Military Academy

1996Kuk Sool Won™ School established in The Netherlands

1998Grandmaster In Hyuk Suh is awarded the SuhkRyoo (Pomegranate) Medal for Civil Merit by the South Korean Government

Commenced annual seminars and special training in Europe

1999Kuk Sool Won™ School established in Spain

Victory of a Little Giant, a special documentary about Grandmaster In Hyuk Suh produced by the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS aired 3/17)

2000Kuk Sool Won™ recognized as an Official Governing Body for martial arts by the South Korean Government

Kuk Sool Won™ participates in the KyungJu Cultural Expodemonstration members include masters from all over the world and conclude with a final performance for the President of South Korea

2001World Kuk Sool Association® opens a traditional training facility on the outskirts of Houston (Tomball, TX) incorporating over 20 acres of land

2002Kuk Sool Won™ hosts the World Kuk Sool Championships at the Civic Auditorium in KyungJuthis is an international event with over 2000 competitors from across the globe, also received were proclamations for a successful event from many world leaders such as North KyungSang Provincial Governor Lee, KyungJu City Mayor Baek, over a dozen U.S. State Governors, and U.S. President G.W. Bush